Treasurer Presents Cardinal’s Five Year Budget Forecast
Cardinal Board of Education Work Session/Regular Meeting August 26, 2026
Meeting Details: The Cardinal Board of Education met for a regular meeting/work session at the Cardinal Board of Education Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, 44062 at 6:30 pm. The agenda is available online here. Click on the Meeting tab in the upper right hand corner and then on the date of the meeting. This meeting is in person only with no livestream or video.
Board Attendance: President Linda Smallwood, Vice President Barb Rayburn, and members Anita Marlowe, Ruth Natali, and Edna Phile.
Staff Attendance: Superintendent Jack Cunningham, Treasurer Kathryn C. (Katie) Hoffmeister, and Ben Clutter, Teacher, Cardinal Junior/Senior High School Science.
Others in Attendance: Several members of the public were in attendance.
1. Opening Items: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call was taken.
2. Presentations:
Mr. Clutter gave the board some highlights of the trip to Costa Rica. He described the activities of the group, including a visit to an elementary school, and displayed photos of the group and some of the wildlife they observed. He stated that he hoped to get more students to participate in the annual trip next year. There were seven people on the tour this year, only one of whom was a Cardinal student.
Mr. Cunningham announced that a seventh grade student, Tony Herrera, is a state champion in mountain bicycle racing, and he might attend a future board meeting to be recognized.
Mr. Cunningham announced that 20 students who will be going into first grade completed the Safety Town program.
3. Hearing of the Public (agenda items): Parent Jennifer Owens thanked the board for moving forward with employing a school resource officer. Mrs. Smallwood commented that the Treasurer had found some money to fund the position.
4. Discussion Item(s):
4.01 School Resource Officer
Mr. Cunningham announced that the hiring of a School Resource Officer was nearing completion. The cost will be split between the village and the school district and a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by both parties. He stated that the village had hired someone and that the individual’s training is almost completed. He added that the long term goal is to have two or three trained officers and to rotate them among the buildings, perhaps on a monthly basis.
4.02 Public Relations/Communications Lead
Mr. Cunningham stated that he will be bringing two items to a future board meeting pertaining to the duties of the communications lead staff member.
4.03 Staff Opening Week Professional Development Schedule
Mr. Cunningham gave an overview of the current week’s professional development schedule, which he stated was planned by the professional development committee after staff input:
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Monday, August 24 - administrators’ retreat at the Middlefield library
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Tuesday, August 25 - new staff orientation
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Wednesday, August 26 - Writing Revolution
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Thursday, August 27 - Brian Mendler, motivational speaker, who will address student engagement, classroom management, communication, and supporting challenging learners
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Friday, August 28 - Artificial Intelligence
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Monday, September 1 - Curriculum Mapping
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Tuesday, September 2 - Crisis Prevention Institute: Restraint Training
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Wednesday, September 3 - All Staff Convocation 8:00-10:00 am, building open houses 4:00-7:00 pm
Observer Note: See below for a calendar of important upcoming dates.
5. Board Items
5.01 Shared Service Agreement, Crestwood Local Schools Interim Treasurer
5.02 Third Modification to the Employment Agreement of the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Cardinal Local School District Board of Education
BOTH APPROVED 5-0
6. Superintendent’s Report - Personnel Items
6.01 Human Resources/Personnel
Hires (Classified)
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Bolton, Marisa: Paraprofessional Level 2, Step 0 on the Classified Salary Index, 1-year limited contract, for the 2026-27 school year (pending receipt of required documentation).
Supplemental Co- Curricular 2026-27 School Year
Approval of Educational Attainment Salary Schedule Placement Recommendation for approval of the following certified staff members to be moved on the salary schedule due to educational attainment as follows:
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Ramirez, Andrea MA+15 to MA+45
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Cappelucci, Daniel MA to MA+15
Certified Substitutes through the Educational Services Center of the Western Reserve (ESCWR) for the 2026-2027 school year
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Hsieh, Kaiwei
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Staley, Jeffrey
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Clarke, Katherine
ALL APPROVED 5-0
7. Superintendent’s Report - Additional Items
7.01 2026-2027 Building Handbooks
Mr. Cunningham presented the handbooks for Cardinal Jr./Sr. High School and for Cardinal Elementary School.
7.02 Contract: Two Foundation, Inc.
For the education of one high school student
7.03 Agreement - Epicenter Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy
Services for one student
7.04 AbleSpace Subscription Renewal
Observer Note: AbleSpace provides Individual Education Plan (IEP) goal tracking and data collection services to school districts for special education students.
7.05 Donations
1. GrowScape: school supplies
2. Linda Byler: 1,330 books for Cardinal Elementary School students to take home
3. First United Methodist Church of Middlefield: school supplies
4. Great Day Child Care: 50 book bags filled with school supplies
Board President Linda Smallwood asked if the book bags and school supplies would be available for parents and students to take home. Mr. Cunningham said that they were available at kindergarten orientation and would be available at the upcoming open houses. He added that the donated items were on display at the back of the meeting room for people to view after the board meeting.
ALL APPROVED 5-0
8. Treasurer’s Report
8.01 Five Year Forecast
Treasurer Kathryn Hoffmeister gave a presentation showing the district’s five year forecast.
Highlights:
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If the November operating levy passes, the projected budget deficit would be erased. If it does not pass, the projected deficit by 2031 will be 3.2 million dollars.
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Personnel costs are 65% of the budget, which is lower than in the past due to elimination of positions through attrition (retirements) and through consolidation of buildings.
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Purchased services are 25% of the budget. Required services for preschool students with special needs, which includes costs for serving 12-14 students at Metzenbaum, have increased.
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Health care premiums have increased by 4.9%
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Geauga County’s next mandatory property reevaluation will be in 2030. Reviewer Note: The Ohio Department of Taxation has posted information that Geauga County’s sexennial property revaluation is scheduled for 2030, which is a postponement from 2029. See more information here.
8.02 Fiscal Year 27 Permanent Appropriations
Ms. Hoffmeister explained that health care costs are now being tracked in a separate fund.
ALL APPROVED 5-0
9. Legislative Update none
10. Auburn Career Center Update none
11. Hearing of the Public none
12. Upcoming Dates/Meetings
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August 31st: Staff Professional Development Day
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August 31st: Middle School Volleyball vs. Maplewood at 5:00 p.m. at CHS Gym
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August 31st: Girls Soccer vs. Maplewood at 5:00 p.m. at CHS Field
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August 31st: Kindergarten Screenings from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. at CES
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August 31st: School Bus Safety Orientation from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at CHS Parking Lot
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August 31st: MS Volleyball Game vs. Maplewood - 5:00/6:00 p.m. at CES Gym
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August 31st: JV Reserve Volleyball Game vs. Austintown Fitch - 5:15 p.m. at CHS Gym
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August 31st: Girls Soccer vs. Maplewood - 5:00 p.m. at CHS Stadium
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September 1st: Varsity Volleyball Game vs. Mathews - 6:45 p.m. at CHS Gym
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September 2nd: District Open House
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September 2nd: MS Football Game vs. St. John - 5:00 p.m. at CHS Stadium
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September 3rd: MS Volleyball Game vs. Grand Valley - 5:00/6:00 p.m. at CHS Gym
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September 3rd: Girls Soccer vs. Bedford - 6:00 p.m. at CHS Stadium
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September 4th: Varsity Football Home vs. Berkshire - 7:00 p.m. at CHS Stadium (Youth Night recognition before kick-off)
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September 6th: Band-O-Rama at the Geauga County Fairgrounds at 1:30 p.m.
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September 8th: First Day of School
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September 8th: Kindergarten Split Start - Boys ONLY
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September 9th: Kindergarten Split Start - Girls ONLY
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September 9th: MS Volleyball Game vs. Badger - 5:00/6:00 p.m. at CHS Gym
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September 9th: MS Football Game vs. Leetonia - 5:30 p.m. at CHS Stadium
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September 9th: Board of Education Meeting - 6:30 p.m. at BOE Office
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September 10th: ALL kindergarten students start
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September 10th: Junior Varsity Reserve vs. Boardman - 5:00 p.m, at CHS Gym
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September 10th: Varsity Volleyball vs. Bloomfield - 6:15 p.m. at CHS Gym
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September 12th: Cardinal Huskies Marching Band & Flag Line performs at the Berkshire Band Bonanza at 7:00 p.m.
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September 12th: JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Brookfield - 10:00-11:15 a.m. at Cardinal High School Gym
14. Adjournment
APPROVED 5-0
The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Next meeting: September 9, 2026 - Regular Meeting at 6:30 pm at Board Offices, 15982 E. High Street, Middlefield, OH.
Observer: Dorrie Keough
Editor: Gail Roussey
Reviewer: Sarah McGlone
Submitted: August 28, 2026
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